WHEN WILL PEOPLE GET IT?

[Coleco Gemini]

So, I bid on and won a vintage Sears telegames Jokari/hockey sports system with the original box and controllers, got it in the mail today and GUESS WHAT??!?!? The guy shipped it in it's original box with tape and labels all over it! I am pissed! It is ridiculous, dont people think that we collect this stuff? and maybe want the box in good shape? Have you guys experienced this?

[GKC]

So, I bid on and won a vintage Sears telegames Jokari/hockey sports system with the original box and controllers, got it in the mail today and GUESS WHAT??!?!? The guy shipped it in it's original box with tape and labels all over it! I am pissed! It is ridiculous, dont people think that we collect this stuff? and maybe want the box in good shape? Have you guys experienced this?

 

Nope. I have always made contact with the seller prior to putting a bid on anything and make sure stuff is sent in it's own box. Sometimes they get upset that I am contacting them and sometimes they just tell me no (not very often). In both cases I say oh well and don't bid. More times than not though sellers are willing to ship stuff in a box if I ask them.

Edited December 28, 2010 by GKC

[PsychoKittyNet]

Your kidding me? That sucks dude.

[Mirage]

Yes, which is why i always always always am very explicit with people that it should be shipped in a shipping box. You always have to assume pure stupidity especially when dealing with ebay (this was ebay, right)? I even received boxed games in a bubble envelope once. Did the RCA Studio II arrive in an outer box (or was it not boxed)?

[MagitekAngel]

Sounds like something right out of failblog.

[nathanallan]

Ouch, I would have been severely pissed too. Sellers need to be told, they are like robots most of the time, only looking for cash and screw the details of packing and labeling and all the little things that can ruin a transaction.

[+wood_jl]

Yeah, I had that happen once. I always ask now, and I'm always treated like an unreasonable asshole when I do. Sometimes (if it's something I really want) I'll end up having to Paypal them another $10 or so to get a box.

 

When the original box is mentioned in the ad, it is part of the merchandise and I would expect it to be thusly treated as such, and protected. How unreasonable.

 

The ad *SHOULD* say: "Includes original box in excellent condition, but which will be a piece of shit when it gets to you because I (the seller) am only concerned with it for the purposes of attracting bidders to my auction. Bid accordingly."

[GKC]

I always ask now, and I'm always treated like an unreasonable asshole when I do.

 

This has been my experience too. Why do some sellers get so bent out of shape by potential bidders contacting them? It's not like we're calling in the middle of dinner and trying to sell them life insurance or something like that.

[IntellivisionDude]

I seem to remember someone sending me a boxed Intellivision game in a bubble envelope once. But the worst one was an Atari 7800 i bought, and the guy didn't even use packing material. No bubble wrap, nothing. So of course part of the console was cracked underneath. That is just stupidity.

[GrizzLee]

So, I bid on and won a vintage Sears telegames Jokari/hockey sports system with the original box and controllers, got it in the mail today and GUESS WHAT??!?!? The guy shipped it in it's original box with tape and labels all over it! I am pissed! It is ridiculous, dont people think that we collect this stuff? and maybe want the box in good shape? Have you guys experienced this?

 

 

Yes, this has happend to me. The idiot seller in my case advertised it as a very rare collectible with mint box. I requested that they ship in a separate box and that I'd be willing to pay the extra... no reply. Guess what, they shipped the game in a padded enveolope, the box got crushed and all attempts to settle with ebay failed. I got my one and only negative feedback on this transaction. I see that ebay has change the feedback system, so in its present form, I would have never gotten public feedabck from the jackass seller.

 

Bottom line, some sellers are idiots. Its too bad. Because of these types of folks, I walk through life with a cautious eye and unfairly judge people... "All people are idiots until proven otherwise. To do so otherwise compromizes my financial and physical well being".

 

-GrizzLee

[GKC]

I got my one and only negative feedback on this transaction. I see that ebay has change the feedback system, so in its present form, I would have never gotten public feedabck from the jackass seller.

 

 

Would love to see what the guy said in his feedback:

 

"unreasonable buyer expected item to arrive in same condition as shown in auction!!!!"

[Coleco Gemini]

Well the funny thing is, that before it was shipped I emailed him and told him to ship it in a separate box, apparently the message did not get through, the game plays fine, and is rather fun, it came with both of those odd-shaped controllers, I requested a partial refund, as the box is part of the item itself. And the source I got the studio II from sent it in a larger box, as to protect the main box. It is ridiculous. I will take pics and post them of this thing!

[Chris Leach]

Pics or it didn't Happen!

 

Still waiting for pics from the other thread where you said it happened!

[JamesD]

I've had it happen to me as well. ebay feedback comments need to be longer

[keilbaca]

I had it happen also, got an Atari 5200 with all the labels and wrapped in packaging tape.

 

It sucks, and its why when I am looking for a console, I go on here, not on Ebay.

 

Ebay is good for loose games and consoles. All my CIB stuff I buy right from here.

[the-topdog]

I always specify to ship in another box if I buy a CIB or NIB console from someone I do not recognize as a collector, since the original box is the reason you pay twice what a loose unit costs.

[HatefulGravey]

Here is a seller that has used the box to pull the old bait and swap on you like the box doesn't matter. Around my area having the box at all (no matter the condition) means the system must be worth $1000. Some people seem to think the box doesn't matter, some people seem to think they box is all that matters. There are some things that gain value because the box it there, but a copy of Tetris in the box with holes in it and missing the top doesn't really benifit from the box!

 

A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. People know some old gaming stuff is crazy pricy, they just don't know that its maybe 5 games per system that hit those crazy numbers. They just think they are all like that when they see it once.

[+MattelAquarius]

Reminds me of the scene in "Brewster's Millions" where he purposely uses a rare and valuable postage stamp to mail a letter.

[Pong]

Welcome to our wonderful planet Earth, the least collector-friendly planet! As I said before, people are idiots until proven otherwise. Especially on eBay.

[godslabrat]

I had a Dreamcast shipped to me that way. Since I wasn't buying it for the box, it didn't bother me, but I could definitely see myself getting pissed off otherwise.

[PAC MAN FEVER]

ouch man that sucks

[tz101]

Are the labels and tape maybe removable with a heat gun/goo gone? All may not be lost...

[Rik]

I remember receiving a Picture label Superman i won at Ebay.The listing photo showed a clear unblemished mint label,When i got the thing, the label had "James" written across the front in big black magic marker letters. I have never been so pissed off.I emailed the guy and he mailed me back the money and said to keep the game anyway.I think he was scared of getting a negative feedback on his %100 perfect feedback with 1000+ items sold.I was lucky on this one, not that many are that gracious.

[nightwheel]

While not a game, my dad bought a pristine vintage Union 76 antenna ball. Off of ebay a few years ago.

 

But the dumb seller sent the thing in a bubbler mailer. And when we got it, one side of the ball was somewhat fattened. Needles to say, my dad was somewhat ticked.

Edited December 29, 2010 by nightwheel

[SlowCoder]

I remember receiving a Picture label Superman i won at Ebay.The listing photo showed a clear unblemished mint label,When i got the thing, the label had "James" written across the front in big black magic marker letters. I have never been so pissed off.I emailed the guy and he mailed me back the money and said to keep the game anyway.I think he was scared of getting a negative feedback on his %100 perfect feedback with 1000+ items sold.I was lucky on this one, not that many are that gracious.

 

I can't stand carts with writing on them. With alcohol and some TLC I've been successful in removing magic marker from a few of my carts. Once dry I couldn't tell it was ever there. But I also had a couple of carts where the alcohol did smear the ink just a little. So you do have to be careful.